Nitride UV light sensors on silicon substrates

ABSTRACT

An ultraviolet light sensor and method of manufacturing thereof are disclosed. The ultraviolet light sensor includes Group-III Nitride layers adjacent to a silicon wafer with one of the layers at least partially exposed such that a surface thereof can receive UV light to be detected. The Group-III Nitride layers include a p-type layer and an n-type layer, with p/n junctions therebetween forming at least one diode. Conductive contacts are arranged to conduct electrical current through the sensor as a function of ultraviolet light received at the outer Group-III Nitride layer. The Group-III Nitride layers may be formed from, e.g., GaN, InGaN, AlGaN, or InAlN. The sensor may include a buffer layer between one of the Group-III Nitride layers and the silicon wafer. By utilizing silicon as the substrate on which the UV sensor diode is formed, a UV sensor can be produced that is small, efficient, cost-effective, and compatible with other semiconductor circuits and processes. The sensor may be configured to be sensitive to a specific subtype or subband of ultraviolet radiation to be detected by selecting a specific composition of said Group-III Nitride layers.

This application is a non-provisional of and claims the benefit of U.S. patent application No. 61/550,868 filed Oct. 24, 2011, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to semiconductor devices, and more particularly to a structure and method for forming Nitride ultraviolet (UV) sensors, including sensors for sensing one or more of UVA, UVB and UVC radiation.

BACKGROUND

An ultraviolet sensor or detector absorbs UV radiation generally in the wavelength range between 100 nm to 400 nm and provides an output indicative of the sensed UV radiation. The UV spectrum can be subdivided into a number of different subbands, such as UVA, UVB and UVC. The wavelength (photon energy) of these subbands of the UV radiation range from 400 nm to 315 nm for UVA (3.1 eV to 3.94 eV), 315 nm to 280 nm for UVB (3.94 eV to 4.43 eV), and 280 nm to 100 nm for UVC (4.43 eV to 12.4 eV).

Typically, UV sensors are very costly because they utilize exotic and expensive wafer substrate materials, such as silicon carbide and sapphire wafers, which can be an order of magnitude more expensive than the silicon of which most semiconductors are typically manufactured.

SUMMARY

An ultraviolet light sensor and method of manufacturing thereof are disclosed. The ultraviolet light sensor includes Group-III Nitride layers adjacent to a silicon wafer with one of the layers at least partially exposed such that a surface thereof can receive UV light to be detected. The Group-III Nitride layers include a p-type layer and an n-type layer, with p/n junctions therebetween forming at least one diode. First and second conductive contacts are arranged to conduct electrical current through the sensor as a function of ultraviolet light received at the outer Group-III Nitride layer. The Group-III Nitride layers may be formed from, e.g., GaN, InGaN, AlGaN, or InAlN. The sensor may include a buffer layer between one of the Group-III Nitride layers and the silicon wafer. By utilizing silicon as the substrate on which the ultraviolet sensor diode is formed, a UV sensor can be produced that is small, efficient, cost-effective, and compatible with other semiconductor circuits and processes. The sensor may be configured to be sensitive to a specific subtype or subband of ultraviolet radiation to be detected by selecting a specific composition of the Group-III Nitride layers.

DRAWINGS

The above-mentioned features of the present disclosure will become more apparent with reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the layers of an operational Nitride UV GaN sensor diode formed on a silicon substrate in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure that is sensitive to UVA, UVB and UVC subbands.

FIG. 2 shows a graphical representation of a spectral response curve for the Nitride UV sensor of FIG. 1 illustrating the External Quantum Efficiency {EQE} and the corresponding wavelength of such sensor.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the layers of an operational Nitride UV InGaN sensor diode formed on a silicon substrate in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure that is sensitive to UVA, UVB and UVC subbands.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the layers of an operational Nitride UVA only GaN sensor diode including a filter in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the layers of an operational Nitride UVB AlGaN sensor diode formed on a silicon substrate in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference number indicate like components. The following description and drawings are illustrative and are not to be construed as limiting. Numerous specific details are described to provide a thorough understanding. However, in certain instances, well-known or conventional details are not described in order to avoid obscuring the description. References to one or an embodiment in the present disclosure are not necessarily references to the same embodiment; and, such references mean at least one.

Reference in this specification to “an embodiment” or “the embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least an embodiment of the disclosure. The appearances of the phrase “in an embodiment” or “in one or more embodiments” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, nor are separate or alternative embodiments mutually exclusive of other embodiments. Moreover, various features are described which may be exhibited by some embodiments and not by others. Similarly, various requirements are described which may be requirements for some embodiments but not other embodiments.

In general, the present disclosure is directed to various embodiments of structures and methods for the formation of UV, UVA, UVB and UVC sensors from Group-III Nitride semiconductor P/N junctions forming diodes with engineered band edge selectivity of various UV frequencies.

In one or more embodiments, a structure and method are provided for the formation of UV, UVA, UVB and UVC sensors from Group-III Nitride semiconductor P/N junctions forming diodes with engineered band edge selectivity of various UV frequencies. Group-III Nitride semiconductors, including InN, GaN and AlN and their alloys, have a direct energy gap ranging from 0.7 eV (InN) to 6.2 eV (AlN). The band gap can be selectively adjusted to be sensitive to the specific subtype or subband of the UV radiation being detected. In one or more embodiments, the Group-III Nitride semiconductor material comprises GaN, AlGaN, InGaN, or InAlN.

In one or more embodiments, a structure and method are provided for the formation of UV, UVA, UVB and UVC sensors from Group-III Nitride semiconductor P/N junctions on a silicon substrate in order to provide a highly reliable UV sensor with dramatically lower costs of formation and other advantages. By utilizing silicon as the substrate on which the UV sensor diode is formed, a UV sensor that is small, efficient and cost-effective can be produced. This device structure allows lower cost and smaller packages for electronic assemblies that are further compatible with silicon substrates and other low cost substrates frequently utilized in the semiconductor industry. The UV sensor of the invention can, in some embodiments, be integrated on the same silicon wafer as other semiconductor circuits.

In one or more embodiments, a UV sensor comprising a GaN, InGaN, AlGaN or InAlN P/N junction formed on a silicon substrate in accordance with the invention can be used in many applications and markets, such as smartphones that include functionality for detecting UV radiation levels that are harmful to the skin.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a block diagram is shown that illustrates the layers of an operational Nitride UV sensor diode in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure that is sensitive to UVA, UVB and UVC subbands. The UV sensor of FIG. 1 includes a p-type GaN top layer 100, followed by an n-type GaN layer 120 which is formed on a buffer layer 130, all of which are formed on a silicon substrate wafer 140. The buffer layer 130 assists with growing the GaN layers 100, 120 on the silicon substrate wafer 140 so as to improve the quality and in turn the performance of the GaN layers 100, 120. Metal contacts 160 for the sensor diode are formed on at least a portion of the opposing outside surfaces of the Nitride UV sensor.

In one or more embodiments, the substrate wafer 140 comprises a silicon substrate in order to provide a highly reliable UV sensor with dramatically lower costs of formation than conventional UV sensors that made use of silicon carbide or sapphire wafers. By utilizing silicon as the substrate wafer 140 on which the UV sensor diode is formed, a UV sensor in accordance with the present disclosure that is small, efficient and cost-effective can be produced. While silicon is preferably used as the substrate wafer 140 for these advantages and its customary usage in the semiconductor industry, it is understood that other low-cost substrates frequently utilized in the semiconductor industry could be used in place of silicon in the various embodiments described herein, such as glass or the like.

FIG. 2 shows a graphical representation illustrating a spectral response curve for the Nitride UV GaN sensor of FIG. 1. In particular, FIG. 2 illustrates dependencies of the External Quantum Efficiency {EQE} on the corresponding wavelength of such sensor. FIG. 2 shows a UVA response below 370 nm. Curve 210 represents a bias of 0 V, while curve 220 represents a bias of 1.6 V.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a block diagram is provided that illustrates the layers of an operational Nitride UV InGaN sensor diode formed on a silicon substrate in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. In such embodiments, the UV sensor is designed to be sensitive to UVA, UVB and UVC subbands. The structure of FIG. 3 includes a p-type In_(0.11)Ga_(0.89)N (or In_(0.38)Al_(0.62)N) top layer 300, followed by an n-type In_(0.11)Ga_(0.89)N (or In_(0.38)Al_(0.62)N) layer 320 which is formed on a buffer layer of AlN 330, all of which are formed on a silicon substrate wafer 140. Metal contacts 360 for the sensor diode are formed on at least a portion of the opposing outside surfaces of the Nitride UV sensor. In one or more embodiments, the specific alloy composition of In_(0.11)Ga_(0.89)N allows the various UV frequencies for each of the UVA, UVB and UVC subbands to be detected. The specific composition of the Group-III Nitride semiconductor layers forming the P/N junction can be engineered to possess band edge selectivity for the desired UV frequencies to be detected.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a block diagram is provided that illustrates the layers of a working Nitride UVA only GaN sensor diode in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. The UVA sensor of FIG. 4 includes a filter (Al_(0.22)Ga_(0.78)N (or In_(0.27)Al_(0.73)N) layer 450) that only allows the UVA subband to pass there through, where the specific composition of the Al_(0.22)Ga_(0.78)N (or In_(0.27)Al_(0.73)N) layer 450 is engineered for this purpose. The filter layer 450 is formed on a p-type GaN top layer of the diode 400, followed by an n-type GaN bottom layer of the diode 420. The diode layers are formed on a buffer layer of AlN 430, which is formed on a silicon substrate wafer 440. Metal contacts 460 for the sensor diode are formed on at least a portion of the opposing outside surfaces of the Nitride UVA sensor.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a block diagram is provided that illustrates the layers of a working Nitride UVB AlGaN sensor diode in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure The UVB sensor of FIG. 5 includes a p-type Al_(0.22)Ga_(0.78)N (or In_(0.27)Al_(0.73)N) layer top layer of the diode 500, followed by an n-type Al_(0.22)Ga_(0.78)N (or In_(0.27)Al_(0.73)N) layer bottom layer of the diode 520. The diode layers are formed on a buffer layer of AlN 530, which is formed on a silicon substrate wafer 540. Metal contacts 560 for the sensor diode are formed on at least a portion of the opposing outside surfaces of the Nitride UVA sensor.

In the various embodiments described herein, the metal contacts 160, 360, 460, 560 are formed from any conductive materials used in accordance with methods known to those skilled in the art of manufacturing UV sensors. In one or more embodiments, the top metal contact on the UV sensor should be sized and formed so as to allow UV radiation to travel past the top metal contact to enter into the UV sensor, such as by forming the top metal contact on only a portion of the top surface of top diode layer, from Indium-Tin-Oxide or other suitable semi-transparent or substantially transparent conductive material (e.g., NiAl) or by forming the contact in a grid formation.

In the various embodiments described herein, the buffer layers 130, 330, 430, 530 are described as comprising AlN but it is understood that the buffer layers may alternatively comprise other materials known to those skilled in the art to assist in the formation of the semiconductor layers on a silicon substrate wafer. However, in one or more alternative embodiments, it is understood that the Nitride UV sensors described herein may be formed without the use of a buffer layer.

In one or more embodiments, the Group-III Nitride layers (or other layers) may be deposited using any number of known deposition techniques, such as molecular beam epitaxy (MBE), metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD), hydride vapor phase epitaxy (HVPE), remote plasma chemical vapor deposition (RPCVD), or any other appropriate deposition method.

The above embodiments and preferences are illustrative of the present invention. It is neither necessary, nor intended for this patent to outline or define every possible combination or embodiment. The inventor has disclosed sufficient information to permit one skilled in the art to practice at least one embodiment of the invention. The above description and drawings are merely illustrative of the present invention and that changes in components, structure and procedure are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the following claims. For example, elements and/or steps described above and/or in the following claims in a particular order may be practiced in a different order without departing from the invention. Thus, while the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. An ultraviolet light sensor, comprising: a silicon wafer of a material other than silicon carbide; a plurality of Group-III Nitride layers adjacent to said silicon wafer, with one of the Group-III Nitride layers at least partially exposed such that a top surface thereof can receive ultraviolet light to be detected by the ultraviolet light sensor, said Group-III Nitride layers comprising a p-type layer and an n-type layer with p/n junctions therebetween forming at least one diode; a filter in direct contact with the top surface, wherein the filter is a nitride layer that only allows a subband of ultraviolet light to pass through; a buffer layer between one of said Group-III Nitride layers and said silicon wafer, wherein said buffer layer comprises nitride; and first and second conductive contacts arranged to operate with the plurality of Group-III Nitride layers and said silicon wafer as the ultraviolet light sensor by conducting electrical current as a function of ultraviolet light received at one of said Group-III Nitride layers.
 2. The ultraviolet light sensor according to claim 1, wherein said Group-III Nitride layers comprise a GaN layer.
 3. The ultraviolet light sensor according to claim 1, wherein said Group-III Nitride layers comprise an InGaN layer.
 4. The ultraviolet light sensor according to claim 1, wherein said Group-III Nitride layers comprise an AlGaN layer.
 5. The ultraviolet light sensor according to claim 1, wherein said Group-III Nitride layers comprise an InAlN layer.
 6. The ultraviolet light sensor according to claim 1, wherein said buffer layer comprises AlN.
 7. The ultraviolet light sensor according to claim 1, wherein one of said first and second conductive contacts is located so as to allow ultraviolet radiation to travel past it.
 8. The ultraviolet light sensor according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second conductive contacts comprise a semi-transparent or substantially transparent conductive material.
 9. The ultraviolet light sensor according to claim 8, wherein said at least one of said first and second conductive contacts comprises Indium-Tin-Oxide.
 10. The ultraviolet light sensor according to claim 8, wherein said at least one of said first and second conductive contacts comprises NiAl.
 11. The ultraviolet light sensor according to claim 1, wherein said conductive contacts are metal.
 12. The ultraviolet light sensor according to claim 1, wherein said silicon substrate is p-doped.
 13. The ultraviolet light sensor according to claim 1, wherein said Group-III Nitride layers comprise a p-type In_(0.11)Ga_(0.89)N top layer followed by an n-type In_(0.11)Ga_(0.89)N bottom layer, said bottom layer being layered on said buffer layer.
 14. The ultraviolet light sensor according to claim 13, wherein said buffer layer comprises AlN.
 15. The ultraviolet light sensor according to claim 1, wherein said Group-III Nitride layers comprise a p-type In_(0.38)Al_(0.62)N top layer followed by an n-type In_(0.38)Al_(0.62)N bottom layer, said bottom layer being layered on said buffer layer.
 16. The ultraviolet light sensor according to claim 13, wherein said buffer layer comprises AlN.
 17. The ultraviolet light sensor according to claim 1, configured to absorb and respond to UVA radiation at a wavelength range between 400 nm and 315 nm.
 18. The ultraviolet light sensor configured as a UVA sensor according to claim 17, further comprising a filter of Al_(0.22)Ga_(0.78)N, and wherein said Group-III Nitride layers comprise a p-type GaN top layer followed by an n-type GaN layer on said buffer layer.
 19. The ultraviolet light sensor configured as a UVA sensor according to claim 18, wherein said buffer layer comprises AlN.
 20. The ultraviolet light sensor configured as a UVA sensor according to claim 17, wherein the nitride layer of the filter is In_(0.27)Al_(0.73)N, and wherein said Group-III Nitride layers comprise a p-type GaN top layer followed by an n-type GaN layer on said a buffer layer.
 21. The ultraviolet light sensor configured as a UVA sensor according to claim 20, wherein said buffer layer comprises AlN.
 22. The ultraviolet light sensor according to claim 1, configured to absorb and respond to UVB radiation at a wavelength range between 315 nm and 280 nm.
 23. The ultraviolet light sensor configured as a UVB sensor according to claim 22, wherein said Group-III Nitride layers comprise a p-type Al_(0.22)Ga_(0.78)N top layer, followed by an n-type Al_(0.22)Ga_(0.78)N bottom layer on said buffer layer.
 24. The ultraviolet light sensor configured as a UVB sensor according to claim 23, wherein said buffer layer comprises AlN.
 25. The ultraviolet light sensor configured as a UVB sensor according to claim 22, wherein said Group-III Nitride layers comprise a p-type In_(0.27)Al_(0.73)N top layer, followed by an n-type In_(0.27)Al_(0.73)N bottom layer on said buffer layer.
 26. The ultraviolet light sensor configured as a UVB sensor according to claim 25, wherein said buffer layer comprises AlN.
 27. The ultraviolet light sensor according to claim 1, configured to absorb and respond to UVC radiation at a wavelength range between 280 nm and 100 nm.
 28. The ultraviolet light sensor according to claim 1, configured to absorb and respond to ultraviolet radiation at a wavelength range between 100 nm to 400 nm.
 29. An ultraviolet light sensor, comprising: a silicon wafer of a material other than silicon carbide; a plurality of Group-III Nitride layers overlying the silicon wafer, the Group-III Nitride layers comprising a p-type GaN layer overlying an n-type GaN layer with p/n junctions therebetween forming at least one diode; a filter in direct contact with a top surface of the p-type layer, wherein the filter is an AlGaN or InAlN layer, and the filter only allows a subband of ultraviolet light to pass through; an AlN buffer layer between the Group-III Nitride layers and the silicon wafer; and top and bottom conductive contacts arranged to operate with the plurality of Group-III Nitride layers and the silicon wafer as the ultraviolet light sensor by conducting electrical current as a function of ultraviolet light received at one of the Group-III Nitride layers; wherein the p-type layer of the Group-III Nitride layers is at least partially exposed by the top conductive contact such that the top surface of the p-type layer can receive the subband of ultraviolet light that passes through the filter to be detected by the ultraviolet light sensor. 